IFRA, the International Fragrance Association, is the industry body that sets safety standards for fragrance ingredients, restricting or banning specific materials based on scientific risk assessment, and it matters because its standards are what determine whether and how much of a given ingredient can safely be used in perfume sold to consumers.

What IFRA actually does in practice

IFRA works with independent scientific research, much of it conducted through its associated research institute, to assess fragrance ingredients for potential risks such as skin sensitisation, phototoxicity, or other safety concerns. Based on that research, IFRA issues standards that either restrict the maximum concentration a material can be used at in a finished product, or in some cases ban it outright. While IFRA itself isn’t a government regulator, its standards are widely adopted throughout the industry and closely tied to actual legal requirements in major markets including the EU and UK.

This is exactly why some classic fragrances have been reformulated over the decades, older formulas sometimes used ingredients or concentrations that are no longer permitted under updated IFRA guidance. We cover how these decisions actually get made in our related answer on how IFRA decides whether an ingredient is banned or restricted. Our how perfume is made guide covers regulation and safety in full, and the complete guide to perfume has more background.